Hebrews 2:1

Hebrews 2:1 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip.
• New International Version (NIV)We must pay the most careful attention, therefore, to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away.
• English Standard Version (ESV)Therefore we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, lest we drift away from it.
• New King James Version (NKJV)Therefore we must give the more earnest heed to the things we have heard, lest we drift away.

Context of Hebrews 2:1

So we must listen very carefully to the truth we have heard, or we may drift away from it. 2For the message God delivered through angels has always stood firm, and every violation of the law and every act of disobedience was punished. 3So what makes us think we can escape if we ignore this great salvation that was first announced by the Lord Jesus himself and then delivered to us by those who heard him speak?

Hebrews 2:1 word by word

Διὰ τοῦτο δεῖ περισσοτέρως προσέχειν ἡμᾶς τοῖς ἀκουσθεῖσιν, μήποτε παραρυῶμεν.¶Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Thereforeδιάdia · through/because ofG1223
• ·οὗτοςhoutos houtoi hautē hautai · this/he/she/itG3778
• weἐγώegō · I/weG1473
• oughtδεῖdei · be necessaryG1163
• to giveπροσέχωprosechō · to watch outG4337
• the more earnestπερισσῶςperissōs · excessivelyG4057
• to the things which we have heardἀκούωakouō · to hearG191
• lest at any timeμήποτεmēpote mē pote · lestG3379
• we should letπαραρρέωpararrhueō · to drift awayG3901
• ·ὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588

Cross-references for Hebrews 2:1

• Hebrews 2:2For the message God delivered through angels has always stood firm, and every violation of the law and every act of disobedience was punished.
• Hebrews 1:1Long ago God spoke many times and in many ways to our ancestors through the prophets.
• Hebrews 12:25Be careful that you do not refuse to listen to the One who is speaking. For if the people of Israel did not escape when they refused to listen to Moses, the earthly messenger, we will certainly not escape if we reject the One who speaks to us from heaven!
• Deuteronomy 4:9“But watch out! Be careful never to forget what you yourself have seen. Do not let these memories escape from your mind as long as you live! And be sure to pass them on to your children and grandchildren.
• Deuteronomy 32:46he added: “Take to heart all the words of warning I have given you today. Pass them on as a command to your children so they will obey every word of these instructions.
• Joshua 23:11So be very careful to love the Lord your God.
• 1 Chronicles 22:13For you will be successful if you carefully obey the decrees and regulations that the Lord gave to Israel through Moses. Be strong and courageous; do not be afraid or lose heart!
• Psalms 119:9How can a young person stay pure? By obeying your word.
• Proverbs 2:1My child, listen to what I say, and treasure my commands.
• Proverbs 3:21My child, don’t lose sight of common sense and discernment. Hang on to them,
• Proverbs 4:1My children, listen when your father corrects you. Pay attention and learn good judgment,
• Proverbs 7:1Follow my advice, my son; always treasure my commands.
• Luke 8:15And the seeds that fell on the good soil represent honest, good-hearted people who hear God’s word, cling to it, and patiently produce a huge harvest.
• Luke 9:44“Listen to me and remember what I say. The Son of Man is going to be betrayed into the hands of his enemies.”
• Hebrews 12:5And have you forgotten the encouraging words God spoke to you as his children? He said, “My child, don’t make light of the Lord’s discipline, and don’t give up when he corrects you.
• Matthew 16:9Don’t you understand even yet? Don’t you remember the 5,000 I fed with five loaves, and the baskets of leftovers you picked up?

Commentaries on Hebrews 2:1

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 1Therefore - Because God has spoken to us by his Son; and because that Son is so great and glorious a personage; and because the subject which is addressed to us is of such infinite importance to our welfare. We ought to give the more earnest heed - We should hear the doctrine of Christ with care, candour, and deep concern. Lest at any time we should let them slip - ̔· "Lest at any time we should leak out." This is a metaphor taken from unstanch vessels…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 1Therefore - Greek “On account of this” - ͂ Dia touto- that is, on account of the exalted dignity and rank of the Messiah as stated in the previous chapter. The sense is: “Since Christ, the author of the new dispensation, is so far exalted above the prophets, and even the angels, we ought to give the more earnest attention to all that has been spoken.” We ought - It is suitable or proper (Greek ̀ dei) that we should attend to those things. When the Son of…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 1The duty of stedfastly adhering to Christ and his gospel. (1-4) His sufferings are no objection against his pre-eminence. (5-9) The reason of his sufferings, and the fitness of them. (10-13) Christ's taking the nature of man, and not his taking the nature of angels, was necessary to his priestly office. (14-18) Verses 1-4 Christ being proved to be superior to the angels, this doctrine is applied. Our minds and memories are like a leaky vessel, they do…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 1What we have heard is the message of salvation delivered through Christ (Hebrews 2:3). So that we do not drift away is like a ship going off course. Here, it means losing spiritual focus by not paying close attention to the Good News.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1-181. Therefore--Because Christ the Mediator of the new covenant is so far (He 1:5-14) above all angels, the mediators of the old covenant. the more earnest--Greek, "the more abundantly." heard--spoken by God (He 1:1); and by the Lord (He 2:3). let them slip--literally "flow past them" (He 4:1).Read the comment

Topics related to Hebrews 2:1

• Decision
• Judgments
• Perseverance
• Watchfulness
• Word of God

In the dictionaries

• Bondage
• Heed
• Neglect
• Recompense
• Reconciliation
• Taste
• Congregation
• Ebionism; Ebionites
• Eschatology of the New Testament
• Faithful; Faithfulness

Commentaries on Hebrews 2

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Illustrated New Testament
• Burkitt’s Expository Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Family Bible Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• The People’s New Testament
• Robertson’s Word Pictures
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings